Daniel Boone, Pioneer Kentucky Frontiersman, Born in Berks County October 22, 1733

One of the earliest of American romances is written about the character and thrilling experiences of Daniel Boone, who forsook the quiet and uneventful life of a Quaker, turned his back on the civilization of his native State, deserted his farm in North Carolina and went in search of adventure in the wilderness of Kentucky.

George Boone, III, sailed from England with his wife and three of their nine children, August 17, 1717, and landed in Philadelphia, October 10. This family resided for a short time at Abington, then for two years at North Wales. They belonged to the sect of Quakers and were members of the Gwynedd Meeting.

George Boone, next settled at Oley, then in Philadelphia County, but later, a part of Exeter Township, Berks County; named Exeter when Berks County was erected in honor of the Boone home in England. Here George Boone built a log house, in 1720, situated seven miles east of Reading. It is still standing, and is one of the priceless relics of old Berks County.

The third son of George and Mary Maugridge Boone was Squire Boone, the father of Daniel Boone, who was born on another farm in the same neighborhood, on October 22, 1733.

Daniel left Berks County with his parents for North Carolina in 1750, at the age of seventeen years. They seated themselves in Yadkin River Valley, and young Boone soon became the most expert woodsman and hunter in that section of the State. In 1755 Daniel married Rebecca Bryan, the prettiest girl in the neighborhood, and they were happy in their new log house.

The settlers became too numerous and soon the hunting was more difficult and longer trips necessary. Daniel grew restless, and about that time he was attracted by the tales of John Finley, an experienced Indian trader and adventurer, about the country beyond the mountains, known as Kentucky.

737Boone then gathered together five companions and set out on a hunting and exploration trip. After a long, weary march they reached the heights overlooking the plains of Central Kentucky, and observed the huge herds of buffalo and deer, and felt amply rewarded for the hardships endured in getting there.

They erected a cabin and passed a happy and busy summer hunting and exploring. A few days before Christmas the camp was broken up through the capture of Boone and a companion while out hunting. They were suddenly surprised by fifteen Indians and taken prisoners.

Boone and his companion made their captors believe they were happy in their experience and promptly accepted the Indian manner of doing things.

In the middle of the night Boone awakened his companion, grabbed their rifles and escaped.

When they arrived at their cabin it was deserted. The two men realized they were the only white men west of the mountains, but they remained and resumed their hunting.

Some days later Squire Boone, a brother of Daniel, and a friend, arrived at Daniel’s camp. The neighbor who accompanied Squire soon grew homesick and returned to North Carolina. Boone’s other companion was killed by the Indians, and only the brothers were left alone in that wilderness of Kentucky.

They hunted all winter, and in the spring Squire tramped back home for a supply of powder leaving Daniel alone. Three months later Squire returned with powder, lead, horses and the happy tidings that all was well at home.

The following spring Daniel and his brother made a trip home. A year later he sold his farm and planned to make his home in Kentucky. Several neighbors decided to join him, and soon five families, forty in all, with cattle and household goods, were tramping toward the western country.

Suddenly the men driving the cattle were fired at from ambush and six of them killed, one of whom was Daniel Boone’s eldest son. This so saddened the emigrants that Daniel Boone led them back to the Clinch River, where they remained until 1774.

Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, employed Boone to rescue a party of surveyors, and he made a round trip of 800 miles, to the Falls of the Ohio and back to Virginia in sixty-two days, bringing the men back without a mishap.

On April 1, 1775, he began the erection of his famous fort on the Kentucky River. It was finished in June and named Boonesborough.

Boone then returned home, gathered up his family and took them to the new home he had prepared. Here they were happy until the Indians began to make trouble.

The day before Christmas one of his men was killed and another 738wounded. The following June, Boone’s young daughter and two girls foolishly crossed the river in a boat and were carried away by the Indians.

Boone and eight companions started in pursuit, and forty miles distant came upon them at dinner. The Indians were taken by surprise and fled without their rifles, two being killed on the jump. The girls were rescued unharmed.

During the winter of 1778 Boone was captured at a salt springs, with about thirty of his men. The Indians led them toward Canada, reaching Detroit in March.

The English bought the prisoners, offering a large sum for Boone, but the Indians refused it, saying they liked him and wanted to make him one of their tribe. Boone returned with them, always conducting himself in a cheerful manner. He was adopted in the tribe as a son of Chief Blackfish.

One evening he learned the Indians planned an attack on Boonesborough. He hid food in his shirt and at daybreak started on a hunting trip. Covering his trail, he set out for home, walking day and night, eating few meals during the 160 miles through the woods.

When he arrived he found his wife, believing him dead, had returned to her father’s home. He assembled his sixty men and prepared for the attack of 400 Indians.

The attack was made, British and Canadians being among the savages under Chief Blackfish. A parley of two days was agreed to, but Boone used the time to better protect the fort.

After a fierce fight lasting nine days the Indians gave up and started home, leaving behind thirty-seven dead and many wounded. Boone lost two men and had four wounded.

In 1780 Squire Boone was killed and Daniel had a narrow escape from capture.

In 1782 Boone was commissioned a lieutenant colonel. One of his sons was killed and the other wounded.

Kentucky was admitted as a State February 4, 1791. Boone’s restless spirit then moved him westward and in 1795 he settled in Missouri. He died September 26, 1820, and his body was buried beside his wife, who had died seven years before.

In 1845 Boone’s remains were re-interred near Frankfort, Ky.

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